About one in six workers started work with a new employer/business during the year to February 2010, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Of the 10.9 million people who were working at February 2010, 2 million (18%) had been with their current employer/business for less than 12 months. Almost half of these (963,000) had changed their employer/business during the previous 12 months. The people most likely to change their employer/business, were those aged 25-34 years (55%) and 35-44 years (56%). This group reported that their new job was with a different employer/business, compared to 47% of those aged 45 years and over.

Some 7.1 million employees working at February 2010 had been with their current employer for one year or more. Of these, 1.8 million employees, or one in every four (25%), experienced some change in work. Over half (51%) of those who had experienced a change in work, had changed the number of hours usually worked, 43% had been promoted and 10% changed occupation (people could have reported more than one change in work).

There were 2.2 million people who ceased a job during the year ending February 2010. Of those, 58% voluntarily left their job, compared to 70% back in 2008. For the 917,300 people who involuntarily lost their job, just under half (47%) had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months. The most common reason for involuntary job loss was 'Retrenched by their employer or went out of business' (50%).

Further details can be found in Labour Mobility, Australia, February 2010 (cat. no. 6209.0).

Media notes:

In this context, employees exclude owner managers of incorporated enterprises.

When reporting on these statistics, attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.